The Women's Circus, a feminist not for profit organisation, provides circus performance training and social arts projects for women, trans, and non-binary people in the western region of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Training programs focus on the physical and imaginative potential of the human body, self-awareness and self-esteem. It has a history of original productions with social, educational, and health themes related to women's lives.
History The inspiration for the Women's Circus was built on the work of an earlier Wimmins Circus, Australia's first women's circus established in Melbourne, which ran from 1978 to 1981.
The Women's Circus began in 1991, as an initiative of the Footscray Community Arts Centre, offering training and performance projects. Women recognised as founders include Donna Jackson, director; Sally Forth, trainer; and Elizabeth Walsh, director of the Footscray Community Arts Centre. Jean Taylor, who joined the Women's Circus in 1991, went on to establish the Performing Older Women's Circus in 1995.
The Women's Circus toured Beijing in 1995 as part of the United Nation's Conference on Women, and performed and ran workshops in regional France in 2012. It has won several awards from Arts Victoria and the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
In 2006, the organisation moved to the Drill Hall, Footscray, and started receiving support from the Maribyrnong City Council.
Training In addition to intermediate and advanced training programs, the circus offers a program for people who have no experience in circus training. Participants learn a range of skills, including hula-hooping, juggling, trapeze, swings, acro-balance (making pyramids), climbing and tumbling.
Publications
Productions Past productions include: The Drill | Director: Penelope Bartlau, 2019 Night Circus | Director: Penelope Bartlau, 2017 Fluidity | Director: Penelope Bartlau, 2017 The Penelopiad | Director: Steph Kehoe, 2016 Soar | Director: Steph Kehoe, 2013 What Do I Want? | Director: Spenser Inwood, 2013 Red Hot Flush | Director: Deb Batton, 2012 Leggings are Not Pants | Director: Sarah Pheasant, 2012 Out of the Box | Director: Franca Stadler, 2012 Snakes and Ladders | Director: Deb Batton, 2011 Ladies Prefer Brunettes | Director: Sarah Pheasant, 2011 Quite Contrary | Director: Deb Batton, 2010 Melbourne City Baths Show | Directors: Sarah Pheasant & Franca Stadler, 2010 Betty | Director: Felicia O’Brien, 2010 Herstory | Director: Felicia O’Brien, 2009 Here, Where We’ve Always Been | Director: Nadia Kotisch, 2008 Antechamber | Director: Annie Davey, 2007 A Plane Without Wings is a Rocket | Director: Annie Davey, 2006 Daddy | Director: Donna Jackson, 2005 Maribyrnong Pool Opening Show | Director: Donna Jackson, 2005 Sacred | Director: Kate Sulan, 2004 Odditorium | Director: Andrea Lemon, 2003 Ghosts | Director: Andrea Lemon, 2003 Secrets | Director: Sarah Cathcart, 2001 The Island | Director: Sarah Cathcart, 2000 Lilith | Director: Sarah Cathcart, 1999 Night Flying | Director: Sarah Cathcart 1999 Soles of Our Feet | Director: Sarah Cathcart 1998 Swimming with Sharks | Director: Sarah Cathcart 1998 Pope Joan | Director: Sarah Cathcart, 1997 Leaping the Wire | Director: Donna Jackson, 1995 Death, The Musical | Director: Donna Jackson, 1994 Women and Sport | Director: Donna Jackson, 1993 Women and Work | Director: Donna Jackson, 1992 Women and Institutions | Director: Donna Jackson, 1991
See also List of circuses and circus owners
References
External links